THE CHURCHIN ENGLAND
Diocese of Manchester
The diocese has launched a new film featuring Mission and Support priest, the Rev Pete Horlock.
Mr Horlock, whose responsibilities include reaching out to the business community in Manchester’s city centre, is one of the first to feature in a new series from the diocese, which will highlight lesser-known areas of ministry.
Speaking on his role, and the film, ‘Spotlight on Ministry to Business’, he said: “We want to build a partnership with the business community, but also support them through pastoral relationships.
“We’re all on a mission: businesses have mission statements and they would be missionaries pushing their products too. I think what we have to do differently though is build relationships that are credible, where people can engage with our message, and engage with ourselves as Christians in the workplace.”
Diocese of Durham
The Bishop of Jarrow, the Rt Rev Mark Bryant, formally dedicated the new £12.8m building of the Ian Ramsey Church of England Academy last week.
The Academy building is the first secondary school to open under the Government’s ‘Priority Schools Building Programme’.
Bishop Mark said: “I was delighted to be asked to mark the start of this new chapter in the life of one of our Diocesan Secondary Schools. The importance of the work done every day in Church Schools up and down the country where we educate more than one million young people every day cannot be overstated.”
Diocese of Guildford
Guildford Cathedral raised over £12,000 at a fundraising reception in Churt in aid of the Cathedral Appeal.
The event, held at a private car collection, was attended by local business people and car enthusiasts who were immersed in the rare, classics collection.
Commenting on the success of the event, the Dean said: “We’re delighted that the event was such a success.
“There is £450,000 left to raise to complete the Cathedral Appeal and this wonderful reception has helped us take another crucial step towards achieving our final goal.”
Diocese of York
The Singing Vicars, a collective of seven vicars from from Scarborough and Filey, have produced their own CD, A Clergy Life.
Reverends Andrew Allington, Mark Haynes, Pam Jennings, Liz Kitching, Mike Leigh, Jason McCullagh and Clare Stainsby have been performing for five years in order to raise money for charity.
Their new CD includes a Christian version of the Grease Medley, Elvis’ Love Letters, Only You, and You Raise Me Up. Their song 500 Men takes The Proclaimer’s 500 Miles to tell the story of Jesus feeding the 5,000 with five loaves and two fishes, and Believer’s Medley is a 1960s-style blending of I’m A Believer, Daydream Believer and Holy, Holy – singing “I’m a believer, Jesus is walking by my side”. All proceeds from the CD will go to Christian Aid.
The Rev Mike Leigh, vicar of Newby, Cloughton and Burniston, said: “Being part of The Singing Vicars is great fun, we are fundamentally opposed to taking ourselves seriously, and we’re secretly pleased the Good Lord did not give us the gifts to go on ‘Britain’s Got Talent’.
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Also in the Diocese, churches in Hull have appointed a Project Co-ordinator for Communities of Culture, to help multi-denominational churches in the area engage with Hull as the UK’s City of Culture 2017.
The Rev David Perry is the Methodist Superintendent Minister of the Hull Centre and West Circuit and chair of Believe in Hull, the umbrella body that is helping churches engage with City of Culture. He said: “Churches are uniquely placed to make sure 2017 can be about Communities of Culture. Andy will be helping all churches in the city, especially those in more deprived areas, to tell the stories of their communities and create cultural events.”
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Also in York, Archbishop Dr John Sentamu celebrated the 900th anniversary of St Peter’s Church, Wawne.
In his dedication, Archbishop Sentamu commented on the preservation of the 12th century architecture.
Speaking ahead of the anniversary service, the Rev Shaun Sandham, vicar of St Peter’s, said: “The church was given to the monks at Meaux Abbey around 1150, and although the abbey has long gone, we’ll be walking from the site of the old Abbey to church for our service on Sunday.”
Diocese of Southwell and Nottingham
The new Bishop of Southwell & Nottingham, the Rt Rev Paul Williams, continued his five-day prayer tour to meet people in their places of work, by visiting Tesco in Top Valley, Nottingham.
Bishop Paul sat on the tills, in order to gain an understanding of the way people serve in their communities.
He said: “I’m thrilled to be meeting people across the county and learning how the Church can continue to make a big difference in every community, as we live as people of hope in Jesus Christ.
“The prayer tour is a wonderful way to prepare for the Inauguration of my ministry at Southwell Minster, as well as celebrating all that God is already doing across the diocese through his Church.”